How to Create a Podcast Trailer (& Why You Should!)

It’s a good suggestion to create a brief promo trailer on your podcast for a few causes.

Firstly, you possibly can embed it on the entrance web page of your web site. That means, everybody who lands in your web site can get an instantaneous taster of your content material with out the necessity to leap by way of any hoops.

Secondly, your trailer may be featured and performed on different reveals. There are total podcasts devoted to enjoying trailers, however a simpler and focused method could be a ‘trailer swap’ settlement between your self and one other podcast to advertise one another to your respective audiences.

Podcast trailer instance: Hostile Worlds

Having your trailer simply accessible means you may get promotion with out even being conscious of it, too. If one other podcaster likes your work, they will obtain the audio and play it on their present.

The one potential draw back of getting a promo trailer is when you have a nasty one. However in fact, after studying this information, that isn’t going to occur.

Let’s kick issues off with a number of ceaselessly requested questions on podcast trailers.

So the notorious podcasting “it relies upon” reply isn’t simply as extensive open right here.

I’d say that having two variations of your trailer, one at 30 seconds and one at 60 seconds, will cowl most bases.

In the event you submit a trailer to a specific podcast, they’ll probably have their standards. For instance, Libsyn’s The Feed asks for not than 30 seconds.

The underside line is that trailers are fairly quick, and the seconds tick by shortly. So, how do you benefit from the quick period of time it’s important to seize the eye of potential listeners?

What Goes in My Podcast Trailer?

You’ve all the time acquired inventive license in podcasting, however there are some naked necessities right here. These might sound apparent, however you’d be shocked what number of trailers depart some of these things out.

The Title of Your Podcast

Yeah, you’ll need to embrace that…

In the event you don’t have one but, take a look at our ultimate guide to podcast names.

What’s It About, & Who’s It For?

Don’t depend on the identify of your present to inform folks this invaluable information. Inform them your self. You possibly can nail this right down to a sentence or two.

A preferred method is to open with a query, like, “Are you a ___ who struggles with ___? Then be a part of us on the ___ podcast the place we aid you ___.”

Or “Have you ever ever puzzled about ___?, or what about ___? Properly, these are simply two of the subjects you’ll discover us discussing every week on the ___ podcast.”

Be certain your target market is aware of that is the present for them, and that individuals who aren’t your target market know that it isn’t for them.

For a deeper dive, take a look at Who is your podcast for?

Your Web site

Like every good name to motion, ship them to 1 single easy-to-remember place – ideally your personal web site. Don’t say issues like “Look us up on Fb” or “Discover us in Apple Podcasts” and run by way of an inventory of podcast directories. That is completely redundant and a waste of invaluable area.

It’s good follow in your web site to have a “Subscribe and Observe” web page with hyperlinks to all over the place your present may be discovered.

In the event you don’t have a podcast web site but, then take a look at Podpage, which might get you up and operating with an incredible web site in a couple of minutes (with no technical data obligatory).

The Inventive Bit: Tone & Character

So, offering you’ve acquired the important particulars, we don’t need this to be a inflexible system that leaves each promo trailer sounding the identical.

You need yours to sound distinctive, and meaning getting inventive. That’s a problem with such a brief period of time out there, however you wouldn’t be podcasting in any respect in case you didn’t have a inventive streak in you. You’ll handle!

Your promo trailer would be the first impression of your present for many of the of us who hear it, so that you need to set the temper proper up entrance. For instance, in case you cowl your subject in a lighthearted or comedic means, how will you succinctly convey that?

Your audio high quality (in addition to any music or sound effects you utilize) will all filter into this simply as a lot as what you truly say, too. In the event you run a highly-produced sequence, or pleasure your self in your manufacturing values, then remember to display that in your trailer.

Publishing Your Podcast Trailer

When importing your promo trailer to your podcast feed, it’s a good suggestion to backdate it to a date earlier than the discharge of your first episode. That means, it’ll hold your feed tidy and may be simply discovered. 

With that stated, many hosting providers now present devoted “trailer” tags to assist determine them from customary episodes, and a few directories and apps recognise these, too.

When you’ve uploaded your trailer, embed it onto your web site’s residence or “about” web page. You too can embed it anyplace else on the positioning you assume is perhaps helpful.

In the event you’re on the lookout for podcasts to run a trailer swap with, take a look at Rephonic’s Podcast Audience Graph to seek out reveals with an overlapping target market.

Add Your Podcast Trailer to Spotify

A big chunk of podcast consumption (around 37%, in fact) takes place on Spotify. And, Spotify has a fast and simple option to set your podcast trailer on the platform.

Log in to your Spotify for Creators account and go to settings; then, you’ll discover a ‘choose your trailer’ button. Which means that any new listeners who discover your present on Spotify will spot your trailer immediately. Hopefully, that may win them over to strive a full episode afterwards!

Create a Podcast Trailer: Something to Keep away from?

I’ve already talked about the “discover us in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Overcast…” factor as a no-no. So, are there every other belongings you may need to miss?

Express Language

Alright, I’m not saying don’t have specific language if it’s integral to your present’s temper or tone. However do think about that it’d restrict the place your trailer will get performed.

In the event you completely do want an specific trailer, you may think about making an alternate clear model, too.

Asking For Stuff

The one factor you need to ask folks to do right here is to hearken to your podcast.

I’ve heard a few promo trailers through the years which have managed to squeeze in requests for iTunes critiques and Patreon help. That’s one thing you possibly can discuss to your precise listeners about, not your potential listeners.

Your trailer ought to be all about them, and what they’ll get from listening.

Podcast Trailer Sources & Subsequent Steps

Nonetheless really feel such as you want a serving to hand getting began? Our free Alitu Showplanner will generate a primary draft of a podcast trailer script for you. You don’t even have to log in to make use of it.

And, when you’ve created one thing you’re pleased with, remember to share it with us within the IndiePod community. There, you may get suggestions and options, and also you may even discover one other podcaster to run a trailer swap with, too!